Chromebook Program
Family Tools
Student Assigned Devices
All middle and high school students at NTPS have a Chromebook issued to them. They will use the device throughout the school day and at home for anytime, anywhere learning.
FAQ
- My student's device is lost, stolen, damaged, or doesn't work. What do I do?
- Can my student use a personal device instead of a district Chromebook?
- How do I connect a Chromebook to wi-fi if not at school?
- What kind of power adapter do Chromebooks use?
- What is the $10 Assurance Fee on my student's payment account?
- Will elementary students get Chromebooks to take home?
- What can my student access on the Chromebook when it goes home?
- Why Chromebooks and not a Windows or Mac Laptop?
My student's device is lost, stolen, damaged, or doesn't work. What do I do?
Can my student use a personal device instead of a district Chromebook?
No, a personal device cannot be used in place of the Chromebook. Chromebooks are required to support traditional classroom instruction with our teachers. They come preconfigured with all the software, shortcuts, extensions, and plugins that your student needs to access their digital curriculum. A personal device is not connected in this way.
How do I connect a Chromebook to wi-fi if not at school?
To sign in to Wi-Fi off campus:
No Password Required
- At the NO NETWORK AVAILABLE window, click the triangle in the NO NETWORK line to see a list of available networks
- Double-click the network you want to join
- After a few seconds, the SIGN IN TO YOUR CHROMEBOOK window should appear
- Sign in as you would at school
Password Required
- At the NO NETWORK AVAILABLE window, click the triangle in the NO NETWORK line to see a list of available networks
- Double-click the network you want to join
- After a few seconds, the JOIN Wi-Fi NETWORK window should appear
- Enter the network password and click CONNECT
- After a few seconds, the SIGN IN TO YOUR CHROMEBOOK window should appear
- Sign in as you would at school
What kind of power adapter do Chromebooks use?
Each student is issued one power adapter. The power adapter should remain at home and not be brought to school. Below are links to Amazon for information purposes. Depending on your grade and school, your device could use a different charging connector. Please refer to the photos below and compare to your Chromebook to determine the replacement charger you need.
Charger Type 1
Charger Type 2
What is the $10 Assurance Fee on my student's payment account?
Will elementary students get Chromebooks to take home?
What can my student access on the Chromebook when it goes home?
Student safety on the internet is critically important for NTPS. All devices will have website filtering in place that will restrict harmful content anywhere the device is used. Digital citizenship resources will be provided to help families support their student(s) being safe and responsible on their devices outside of school.
Why Chromebooks and not a Windows or Mac Laptop?
NTPS selected Chromebooks as our primary student device as a cost-effective solution to increase access to digital learning resources for our students. NTPS Chromebooks are semi-rugged, reliable, and secure devices that offer students and staff access to the internet as well as a strong suite of collaboration tools via Google Apps to support student achievement.
Getting Started
Tip Sheets & Shortcuts
Unfamiliar with your Chromebook? Use the Getting Started Guide below or download a tip sheet, informational page, or follow the link to Google's website for more information.
Student Tips
- Keep food and drink away from your device to avoid accidental damage.
- Handle your device with clean hands. Use appropriate cleaning supplies.
- Always keep your Chromebook in its protective case.
- Store it in a safe location every night.
- Know where your Chromebook is! Keep it in your bag or in a safe place when not in use.
- Be gentle when plugging in power or headsets to avoid damaging the plugs.
- Don’t place any stickers, tape, or draw on your Chromebook or case.
- When handling your Chromebook, use two hands to avoid dropping the device.
- Never let anyone borrow your device. It’s your responsibility to keep it safe.
Digital Citizenship Tips
- Communicate responsibly with your device! Cyberbullying is strictly prohibited and may lead to criminal charges. All student emails sent over district systems are archived per state law.
- Never reveal or post identifying personal information to unknown people on the internet.
- Do not attempt to bypass the district filter or browse materials unacceptable in an academic setting. If you accidentally find an inappropriate website, report it immediately to your teacher or parent.
- Follow copyright laws and fair use guidelines. Only download music, videos, or other content related to your school work.
- Make your Chromebook available for inspections by any administrator or teacher upon request.
Family Tips
- Have a discussion with your student concerning the expectations around the use of their device.
- All devices have an internet filter that blocks non-educational websites. No filter can catch every website, so talk with your student around safe and responsible web browsing.
- Have your student charge their device at night in a common area instead of their bedroom.
- Your student’s Chromebook is tied to their login when being used. If others in the household use the device, any web use history will be tied back to your student.
- For more tips on good digital citizenship, visit https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles
How To...
- Power On
- Power Off
- Log In
- Adjust Settings
- Connect to Home Wi-Fi
- Capture Screenshots
- Update the Chromebook Operating System
Power On
Power Off
To turn the Chromebook off, do one of the following:
- Hold down the power button until the screen goes dark
- Click on the clock menu (see Settings Menu above)
- Clock on the power/shutdown button
Note: Closing the lid places the computer into a sleep mode that will drain battery power over time. Turning off your Chromebook when not in use will preserve power. Charge often!
Log In
When you open your Chromebook, and it powers on, you may see a prompt to log into Clever Badge. If so, you’ll want to dismiss that and login manually:
- Click on “Sign in with a different account”
Sign in with your entire NTPS Student email address and enter your student ID for the password. Student IDs are typically the first five letters of the last name and the first three of their first name.
For example: Katniss Everdeen, student number 0013579, will log on to the Chromebook as follows:
- everdkat (for the username)
- 0013579 (for the password)
If your student isn’t sure what their username or password is, please contact their teacher.
Adjust Settings
Connect to Home Wi-Fi
- After the Chromebook is powered on you should see a “NO NETWORK AVAILABLE” window
- Click on the time button in the lower right corner of the screen.
- A small pop up menu will appear
- Click the “Not connected, No Networks” drop down menu
- Select your home network from the list
- Enter your home Wi-Fi password
- Check by making sure the “pie shape” wireless icon is a solid white color
Capture Screenshots
Capture entire screen: CTRL+Print Screen Key
The Print Screen key is typically the sixth key from the left along the top of the keyboard and has a symbol of a square next to two lines. A window will later appear with options to view the screenshot and copy to Google Drive.
Capture partial screen: CTRL+SHIFT+Print Screen Key
You'll be able to drag your cursor to form a box around an area of your display that you want to capture. A window will later appear with options to view the screenshot and copy to Google Drive.
Update the Chromebook Operating System
ChromeOS updates should apply automatically during normal use. If you want to ensure your student device is fully updated, please see the instructions below for how to manually trigger an update.
- Turn on your Chromebook.
- Connect your Chromebook to Wi-Fi if you haven’t already.
- At the bottom right, select the time.
- Select the Settings gear icon
- At the bottom of the left panel, select About Chrome OS.
- Under Google Chrome OS, you'll find which version of the Chrome operating system your Chromebook uses.
- Select Check for updates.
- If your Chromebook finds a software update, it will start to download automatically.
Note: If your Chromebook uses your phone's internet connection or its own mobile data, you'll get an alert about how much mobile data it needs to update. You can then stop or continue with the update.
Assurance Fee
The NTPS assurance program provides an inexpensive solution for families to lessen the financial burden if an accident, loss, or theft of the Chromebook occurs. The assurance fee covers the current school year for a single device and is added as a fee in all secondary student payment accounts in the fall.
Annual assurance fee: $10
How Coverage Works
Accidental damageDamage includes dropping device, water damage, natural disaster, etc. |
Lost or StolenPolice report filed within 24 hours if stolen and provided to NTPS |
|
| 1st Incident | Assurance fully covers the costs of accidental damage for Chromebooks. | $25 to replace device |
| 2nd Incident | $100 to replace device | |
| 3rd Incident | Full cost to replace device |
Approximate costs of repairs without assurance
- Charger: $20
- Camera: $20
- Case: $25
- Keyboard: $30
- Screen: $35
- Device Exterior: $80
- New Chromebook: $200
The fine print
-
All assurance fees stay within the program and fund continued repairs, replacements, and upgrades to student devices.
- Assurance fee will be automatically loaded to all secondary students’ accounts and is non-refundable.
- Students will be charged full price for parts if they intentionally vandalize their device.
- Repeated damage to a device may result in loss of take-home privileges and/or fines on a case-by-case basis.
- If a lost, stolen, or non-returned device is later recovered in working condition, any related fines will be refunded.
- If a student leaves the district and does not return their Chromebook, a fine for the full replacement cost will be placed on the student record and restriction of records and transcripts will apply. Law enforcement may be involved for the purpose of recovering District property
- Families may choose to opt-out of the Assurance Program and accept full financial liability for any damage to their student's Chromebook.
Forms
Troubleshooting
If the Chromebook, hotspot, or charger is damaged (e.g. broken screen, keyboard, water damage) or lost/stolen, please contact your school library.
For all other issues, please review the getting started guide and troubleshooting steps below BEFORE having your student exchange their device at their school's library. If none of the basic troubleshooting items address your issue, move onto the advanced option of a full reset. If the Chromebook must be repaired or replaced, the cost associated depends on if the family is participating in the assurance fee program. See the Assurance Fee tab above.
Basic Troubleshooting
- Perform a Power Reset
- Verify the time of the Chromebook is correct
- Device slowness or issues viewing or submitting assignments
- Turn accessibility features on or off
- Adjust magnification settings
- Turn off High Contrast Mode (mostly black and white screen)
- Rotate screen
- Charging Issues
- No sound in headphones or from device
- Keyboard typing odd characters
Perform a Power Reset
Verify the time of the Chromebook is correct
Device slowness or issues viewing or submitting assignments
Students experiencing issues with submitting assignments, viewing images and videos and other issues may have filled the local memory on their Chromebook. Please try these strategies listed below to clear synced tabs, delete files stored on your Chromebook, and clear your browsing data. If these steps don't resolve your issue, please be sure to let your teacher know.
These links can also be found in the HELP AND TROUBLESHOOTING section of your Clever Dashboard.
- Clear Synced Tabs: Go to this page, scroll to the bottom and click the CLEAR DATA button.
- Empty Downloads Folder
- Clear Browsing Data
- Powerwash Chromebook
- Update Chromebook
Turn accessibility features on or off
Adjust magnification settings
Turn off High Contrast Mode (mostly black and white screen)
- Click on the clock (lower-right)
- In the small pop-up menu, click the Accessibility drop-down
- Click or tap the status area in the bottom right corner > Settings > Advanced (at the bottom) > Manage Accessibility Features
- Under the Display section, click the toggle switch next to Use high contrast mode or press the Tab key repeatedly until the toggle switch is highlighted and then press space bar to toggle this setting off.
Rotate screen
Charging Issues
When plugged into power, what is the indicator light next to the charging port?
- Orange = Charging
- White = Fully Charged
- No Light = Charging Issue
If the Chromebook has no light, try a different power outlet to see if that resolves the issue. Also check to make sure the two pieces of the charging cord are fully connected. If it stays Orange/Red after charging for over 24 hours, open a repair request.
No sound in headphones or from device
If you’re not hearing sound through your headphones, confirm that the headphones are fully inserted into the audio port.
If you’re still not hearing sound, from the headphones, click anywhere on the menu in the bottom right of your Chromebook to open the setting windows. There are two different places to check settings. If you don't see a headphones icon next to the volume setting, headphones are not detected. Check the connection in the audio port.
Audio is on without headphones.
Audio is one and headphones are plugged in.
Headphone sub menu settings.
Keyboard typing odd characters
Advanced Troubleshooting
If you followed all the basic troubleshooting guides and your Chromebook is still acting strangely or non-responsive, try a power wash (full reset).
Chromebook Powerwash (full reset)
Step 1: Sign out of your Chromebook (do not power down)
Step 2: Press and hold CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+r
Step 3: at the Reset this Chromebook screen, click the Powerwash button.
Step 4: At the Confirm Powerwash pop-up, click the Continue button. A Powerwash in Progress message will appear.
Step 5: At the Welcome to your Chromebook screen, click the Get Started button. If prompted, select NO. Continue without ChromeVox.
Step 6: At the Connect to network window, select to your home network. See the Chromebook Basics tab on this page for more information about connecting to outside Wi-Fi.
Step 7: Uncheck the OPTIONAL choice, then select Accept and Continue buttons.
First Powerwash Only:
- The first time your Chromebook is power washed, it can take a while (around 15 minutes, depending on your internet connection). Future power washes only take about 2 minutes to complete.
- A window will appear with “Downloading the latest update” and a time estimate. The estimate may be wildly inaccurate at first but will adjust as the update progresses.
- Your device will reboot.
Your device should be fully reloaded now and ready for use. If your Chromebook is still not working properly, please submit a support request at the bottom of this guide.